How loud is a lion's roar?
A lion's roar reaches about 114 to 117 dB at 1 m. A 2011 study of lion and tiger vocal folds states that a roar reaches 114 dB SPL at 1 m, and a 2021 review of the loudest animals lists the lion at a peak of 117 dB at 1 m.
- Level
- 114–117 dB maxunweighted maximum sound level
- Distance
- 1 m1 m
- Daily limit
- About 18 s a dayNIOSH, at the loud end
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Lion and tiger roars at 1 m: 114 dB SPL (Klemuk et al. 2011, citing earlier field work) and a peak source level of 117 dB re 20 µPa at 1 m for the lion (Larom et al. 1997, as tabulated by Jakobsen et al. 2021). Weighting not stated.
Roars are low and long. Klemuk and colleagues (2011) describe a 36 to 81 Hz roar lasting about 0.5 to 1.5 seconds that reaches 114 dB SPL at 1 m, delivered in bouts of up to 90 seconds containing up to 50 calls. Jakobsen and colleagues (2021) list the lion at a peak source level of 117 dB re 20 µPa at 1 m, from Larom and colleagues (1997).
Klemuk and colleagues found that lion and tiger vocal folds are large and square-shaped, with fat embedded in the tissue. They suggest this shape eases the onset of vibration and extends the dynamic range of the voice, helping these cats produce very low, very loud roars.
Very few people are ever 1 m from a roaring lion. At a zoo or on safari you will usually be tens of metres away, where the level is far lower.
How long is safe?
NIOSH recommends no more than 18 s a day at 117 dBA (35 s at 114). OSHA's legal limit is 11 min. This is a maximum, so a time limit based on it is a worst case. This level is not A-weighted, so the times are approximate: low-pitched sound measures lower in dBA.
| Level | NIOSH limit (85 dBA, 3 dB rule) | OSHA limit (90 dBA, 5 dB rule) | UK/EU 80 dB(A) action value reached after | UK/EU 85 dB(A) action value reached after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 114 dB max | 35 s | 17 min | 11 s | 36 s |
| 117 dB max | 18 s | 11 min | 6 s | 18 s |
Times are for a whole day’s exposure, with the rest of the day quiet. The workplace limits were written for adults at work, not for children. Work out a mixed day with the noise dose calculator.
Protecting your hearing
At safari or zoo distances a roar is not a hearing risk. Keepers working close to roaring big cats indoors should consider hearing protection.
Earplug and earmuff ratings (NRR in the US, SNR in the UK and EU) are lab figures; real-world protection is usually lower. How to read the ratings.
Compared with sounds nearby
Using midpoints of each range. Energy multiplies by 10 every 10 dB; perceived loudness roughly doubles (why).
- Rooster crowing (100–108 dB max): this has about 14× its sound energy and sounds about 2.2× as loud.
- Fighter jet (103–113 dB max): this has about 5.6× its sound energy and sounds about 1.7× as loud.
- White bellbird (125 dB max): it has about 8.9× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.9× as loud.
- SLS rocket launch (Artemis I) (127–136 dB max): it has about 40× the sound energy of this and sounds about 3.0× as loud.
Questions
How many decibels is a lion's roar?
About 114 dB SPL at 1 m according to a 2011 study, and a peak of 117 dB at 1 m in a 2021 review.
Why does a lion's roar sound so deep?
The roar has a fundamental frequency of around 36 to 81 Hz, produced by large, flat vocal folds that can vibrate slowly.
Sources
- Adapted to roar: functional morphology of tiger and lion vocal folds, PLoS ONE (Klemuk et al., 2011), via PMC. Supports: dB_low: 114 dB SPL at 1 m.
A 36–81 Hz roar of about 0.5 to 1.5 s in duration reaches sound pressure levels of 114 dB SPL at 1 m
Checked 2026-11-02. - Adapted to roar: functional morphology of tiger and lion vocal folds, PLoS ONE (Klemuk et al., 2011), via PMC. Supports: body: bouts of up to 50 calls.
A lion's roar is delivered in bouts, lasting up to 90 seconds, consisting of up to 50 calls
Checked 2026-11-02. - How Loud Can you go? Physical and Physiological Constraints to Producing High Sound Pressures in Animal Vocalizations, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (Jakobsen et al., 2021). Supports: dB_high: 117 dB peak at 1 m.
Panthera leo 117 134 Larom et al., 1997
Checked 2026-11-02. - Adapted to roar: functional morphology of tiger and lion vocal folds, PLoS ONE (Klemuk et al., 2011), via PMC. Supports: body: vocal fold shape.
The large square-shaped Panthera vocal fold eases phonation onset and thereby extends the dynamic range of the voice.
Checked 2026-11-02.
This page is general information, not medical advice. If you have ringing in your ears, muffled hearing or any change in your hearing, see an audiologist or your doctor.